Insulated wire splice machine

Abstract

Apparatus for assembling post insulated wire splices, each assembled splice having first a connector crimped around the wires and next insulation therearound, comprises wire gripper means to retain wires to be spliced in a fixed splice working position, connector forming means for crimping a connector around the wires, and connector feed means to supply a connector to the connector forming means. The connector forming means is movable between a position remote from the splice working position and a crimping position in which the forming means crimps a connector around the wires retained by the wire gripper means in the splice working position. The apparatus further comprises insulation assembly means for assembling insulation around the connector, and insulation feed means to provide insulation to the insulation assembly means. The insulation assembly means is movable between a position remote from the splice working position and an operating position in the splice working position.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for assembling post insulated wire splices, each assembled splice having first a connector crimped around the wires and next insulation therearound, comprising wire gripper means for retaining wires to be spliced in a fixed splice working position,   connector forming means for crimping a connector around said wires,   connector feed means for supplying a connector to said connector forming means,   means for moving said connector forming means between a position remote from said splice working position and a crimping position in which said forming means crimps a connector around the wires retained by said wire gripper means in said splice working position,   insulation assembly means for assembling insulation around said connector,   insulation feed means for providing insulation to said insulation assembly means, and   means for moving said insulation assembly means between a position remote from said splice working position and an operating position in which said insulation assembly means assembles insulation around said connector while said connector is in said splice working position, and   means for automatically controlling movements of said connector forming means and said insulation assembly means to and from said splice working position.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, said insulation assembly means comprising an insulation forming tool and a cooperating anvil,   said apparatus further including   a housing, said insulation forming tool and cooperating anvil being carried in said housing,   said means for moving said insulation assembly means comprising   housing reciprocating means responsive to removal of said connector forming means from said crimping position to move said housing to said operating position,   said apparatus further including   insulation forming tool actuating means responsive to the motion of said housing to said operating position to actuate said insulation forming tool and said anvil to assemble insulation around said connector,   said housing reciprocating means being responsive to the actuation of said forming tool and anvil to remove said housing from said operating position.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, said connector forming means comprising a crimping tool, and   an anvil cooperating with said crimping tool and carried with said connector feed means,     said apparatus further including connector feed reciprocating means,   said means for moving said connector forming means including tool reciprocating means for moving said crimping tool toward said anvil into said crimping position to crimp a connector around said wires, and thereafter removing said crimping tool from said crimping position,   said connector feed reciprocating means being responsive to the removal of said crimping tool to remove said connector feed means with said anvil from said crimping position, and being further responsive to the removal of said insulation assembly means from said operating position to move said connector feed means with said anvil to said crimping position and to actuate said connector feed means to place a connector on said anvil for a further cycle.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including control means for actuating said connector forming means to crimp a connector around said wires, then causing said means for moving said connector forming means to remove said connector forming means to its said remote position, and     thereafter causing said means for moving said insulation assembly means to move said insulation assembly means from its said remote position to its said operating position to assemble insulation around said crimped connector.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including cycle initiate means providing a cycle initiate signal, said control means being responsive to said cycle initiate signal to actuate said connector forming means and then to cause said means for moving said connector forming means to remove said connector forming means as said, thereafter to cause said means for moving said insulation assembly means to move said insulation assembly means from its said remote position to its said operating position to assemble insulation around said crimped connector, and then to remove said insulation assembly means to its said removed position,   said control means thereafter actuating said connector feed means to feed a connector and causing said means for moving said connector forming means to move said connector forming means with a connector to said crimping position for a further cycle.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, said connector forming means comprising a crimping tool, and   an anvil cooperating with said crimping tool and carried with said connector feed means,     said means for moving said connector forming means further including tool reciprocating means and connector feed reciprocating means connected to said control means,     said tool reciprocating means being responsive to said control means to move said crimping tool toward said anvil in said crimping position to crimp a connector around said wires, and thereafter to remove said crimping tool from said crimping position,   said connector feed reciprocating means being responsive to said control means and to the removal of said crimping tool to remove said connector feed means with said anvil from said crimping position, and being further responsive to said control means and to the removal of said insulation assembly means from its said operating position to move said connector feed means with said anvil to said crimping position and to actuate said connector feed means to place a connector on said anvil for a further cycle.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5, said insulation assembly means comprising an insulation forming tool and a cooperating anvil,   said apparatus further including   a housing, said insulation forming tool and cooperating anvil being carried in said housing,   said means for moving said insulation assembly means including   housing reciprocating means responsive to said control means and to removal of said connector forming means from said crimping position to move said housing to its said operating position,   said apparatus further including   insulation forming tool actuating means responsive to said control means and to the motion of said housing to said operating position to actuate said insulation forming tool to assemble insulation around said connector,   said housing reciprocating means being responsive to said control means and to the actuation of said forming tool to remove said housing from said operating position.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus for assembling post insulated wire splices, each assembled splice having first a connector crimped around the wires and next insulation therearound, comprising wire gripper means for retaining wires to be spliced in a fixed splice working position,   connector forming means for crimping a connector around said wires,   connector feed means for supplying a connector to said connector forming means,   said connector forming means comprising a crimping tool and   an anvil cooperating with said crimping tool and carried with said connector feed means,     a housing,   insulation assembly means carried in said housing and comprising an insulation forming tool and   a cooperating anvil,     insulation feed means for providing insulation to said insulation assembly means,   cycle initiate means providing a cycle initiate signal,   control means responsive to said cycle initiate signal, and   crimping tool reciprocating means, connector feed reciprocating means, housing reciprocating means, and insulation forming tool actuating means, each connected to said control means,   said crimping tool reciprocating means being responsive to said control means to move said crimping tool toward said anvil into said crimping position to crimp a connector around said wires retained by said wire gripper means in said splice working position, and thereafter to remove said crimping tool from said crimping position,   said connector feed reciprocating means being responsive to said control means and to the removal of said crimping tool to remove said connector feed means with said anvil from said crimping position,   said housing reciprocating means being responsive to said control means and to removal of said connector feed means with said anvil from said crimping position to move said housing to an operating position,   said insulation forming tool actuation means being responsive to said control means and to the motion of said housing to said operating position to actuate said insulation forming tool to assemble insulation around said connector,   said housing reciprocating means being responsive to said control means and to the actuation of said forming tool to remove said housing from said operating position,   said connector feed reciprocating means being further responsive to said control means and to the removal of said insulation assembly means from said operating position to move said connector feed means with said anvil to said crimping position and to actuate said connector feed means to place a connector in said crimping position for a further cycle.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, said tool reciprocating means further providing wire gripper engaging means, actuated during motion of said connector forming means to said crimping position, and   said housing further providing wire gripper release means actuated during removal of said housing from said operating position to release said wires with said assembled splice.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a filler wire unit carried on said connector feed means and reciprocable therewith, including filler wire feed means and   guide tube means having an end adjacent said anvil,     said filler wire unit being selectively operable to place a length of filler wire in said splice working position with said wires to be spliced.